Write-Up: Window Motor Replacement

my roof window is not openiing evertime it stickes

firefighter wrote:

my roof window is not openiing evertime it stickes

It's getting power, but it sticks in the tracks?

If it's not a power issue, you might try greasing the tracks with something and opening and closing the sunroof a few times so the grease gets worked around. Does it sound like there is debris in the tracks? Maybe you could blow it out.

If it's an electrical issue, this might be worth looking at  - Link

If it comes to it, here are instructions for removing the headliner - Link

Jack the R wrote:

firefighter wrote:

my roof window is not openiing evertime it stickes

It's getting power, but it sticks in the tracks?

If it's not a power issue, you might try greasing the tracks with something and opening and closing the sunroof a few times so the grease gets worked around.  Does it sound like there is debris in the tracks?  Maybe you could blow it out.

If it's an electrical issue, this might be worth looking at  - Link

If it comes to it, here are instructions for removing the headliner - Link

Some time ago a member named Ray posted about this issue; there can be electrical problems, but an easy thing to try is to get the roof window partly open then (1) make sure there is no debris blocking anything (2) spray WD-40 or other light penetrating oil, thru a nozzle, on to the mechanism (at the sides of window) BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERSPRAY or drench such that the headliner gets wet at all or stained. Once you have it open, **clean** the tracks. Wipe them off then use an appropriate lubricant (GM Lubriplate, a garage door lithium grease, or some such) to lube the tracks. You don't need much lube. You do need the tracks clean and free of debris.

Albertj

My driver's side window stopped working today. Looking at rockauto, there seems to be several different AC Delco motors available. Some are way more expensive. Are these the correct ones,

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1934998&cc=1303322&jsn=439&jsn=439

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1935222&cc=1303322&jsn=437

Geez Larry I can't tell from the listing. The standard Delco motor and the modified one (runs a little faster) for the Riv both fit.

Consider getting a good used salvage yard motor?

Albertj

So the Delco motors that cost over 130.00 each are just faster?  Not sure i would trust a salvage yard motor.  Why would it be any better, or good for that matter?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,interior,window+motor,1516

The most expensive motors are "pinch" motors.  They have a safety feature that stops the window and reverses it if something is blocking the window, like a kid's fingers.  The 2nd most expensive motors are the hi-speed motors, without the pinch feature.  The cheap motors are regular speed motors.

LARRY70GS wrote:

So the Delco motors that cost over 130.00 each are just faster?  Not sure i would trust a salvage yard motor.  Why would it be any better, or good for that matter?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1998,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1303322,interior,window+motor,1516

The salvage yard motors that I've used seem, by their labeling, to be OEM motors that were replaced and are marked with the Delco/GM part numbers and what looks like a date code. I shoulda been clearer about that. I have found aftermarket (usually VDO) and reman (look like Cardones, painted black - who needs paint on a window motor?!?!!?) and left them alone. Try eBay? At the P&P here they will let you test them at the yard. At this point I have yard motors in driver and passenger doors. The passenger door motor's out of a Chevy and runs slower but not by all that much.

Changed out the window motor today.  I went with the rockauto AC Delco replacement 11M29 for 36.00, bought the passenger side motor as well for down the road.


https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1934998&cc=1303322&jsn=20

 A few days ago, my original motor started to work, but it would bring the window down about 4", and then began to make a ratcheting noise.  If I pushed on the window while holding the button, I could make it go all the way down, but then it would make that noise again on the way up.  I can only conclude that the transmission part of the motor was worn.  The 11M29 (36.00) is every bit as fast as my original window motors.  Another problem solved.

Hey Wizard good to hear you fixed motor but how much expoy u need to get the door panel back on.hahahaha

LARRY70GS wrote:

Changed out the window motor today.  I went with the rockauto AC Delco replacement 11M29 for 36.00, bought the passenger side motor as well for down the road.


https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1934998&cc=1303322&jsn=20

 A few days ago, my original motor started to work, but it would bring the window down about 4", and then began to make a ratcheting noise.  If I pushed on the window while holding the button, I could make it go all the way down, but then it would make that noise again on the way up.  I can only conclude that the transmission part of the motor was worn.  The 11M29 (36.00) is every bit as fast as my original window motors.  Another problem solved.

Thanks for the info about the 11M29.

71stagegs wrote:

Hey Wizard good to hear you fixed motor but how much expoy u need to get the door panel back on.hahahaha

I must be pretty good Steve, didn't break a thing.

The window zips right up and down now. My passenger side is slower. When that goes, I already have the AC Delco 11M30.

albertj wrote:

Thanks for the info about the 11M29.

Pretty impressed with the window speed. Definitely faster than my passenger window. That motor may be getting tired. Price is good. 36.00 for the driver's side, 33.00 for the passenger side.

Here's a video of the window speed.

https://youtu.be/bxLKjPyo998

Fast enough?

If you take the door panel off consider a relube of the gears and sliders.

I am idly thinking about posting a vid of my window opening. I want to say it's faster *but* a properly operating power window no matter what the speed pretty much works for me.

albertj wrote:

If you take the door panel off consider a relube of the gears and sliders.

I am idly thinking about posting a vid of my window opening.  I want to say it's faster *but* a properly operating power window no matter what the speed pretty much works for me.  

It is definitely not slower than what I took out. I did spray the sliders with some dry lube. I have to take the door panel off again soon to replace the vapor shield. The body shop used duct tape and paper.

LARRY70GS wrote:

Here's a video of the window speed.

https://youtu.be/bxLKjPyo998

Fast enough?

Seems about like what I've got but I'm not sure mine is quite as fast as it's supposed to be, even after relubing everything.

LARRY70GS wrote:

albertj wrote:

If you take the door panel off consider a relube of the gears and sliders.

I am idly thinking about posting a vid of my window opening.  I want to say it's faster *but* a properly operating power window no matter what the speed pretty much works for me.  

It is definitely not slower than what I took out.  I did spray the sliders with some dry lube.  I have to take the door panel off again soon to replace the vapor shield.  The body shop used duct tape and paper.

What are you going to replace the vapor shield with? I had a NOS one for drivers side I just installed. My passenger side one is about 15-20% duct tape. And crumbly. I tried McMaster Carr and a couple other places but could not find yardage of the material that was used. So, just curious, what do you plan to use?

I was just going to use some kind of plastic sheeting and duct tape.